Another Day in Africa

This is a great place to wake up in. Perfect temperature, crystal clear weather in a spectacular setting. Breakfast is with a great group of people.

And then it’s off to the hospitals and clinics where we experience the challenge of treating severe, and often exotic disease with minimal resources. The thrill is that at times we can make a difference. Just today we were able to raid the supplies we brought and find a foley catheter drainage bag. This was presented to an unfortunate 17 year old whose needed catheter was draining onto her sheets simply because of the shortage (abscence) of cath bags.

We began today listening to a great presentation on GI bleeding from David. Because of the talent of David and other gastroeneterologists we surgeons are only rarely called upon to salvage these patients. Fortunately they haven’t yet figured out how to steal appendectomies from us and I was able to perform one this morning. We even used the gloves, gowns, drapes, instruments and suture donated by HMH and HOSC.

All in all, a good day now being punctuated by a BBQ dinner. Tomorrow we do it again which will be fun.
JB

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